i upgraded my system about a year ago from windows ME to windows XP, one time about a month ago i restarted my computer and received an error message saying that the operating system could not be found....however the next day it worked again. recently the same thing happened, saying the operating system cant be found but it will not work...........is there any hope of fixing this problem??

did you do a upgrade or clean install???
that could be the difference...

i guess i did an upgrade?>?>? windows ME was installed and i bought the disk to install XP and just followed their directions....

re do it reformat your hard drive and install the windows xp disc the upgrade then it well ask you for an older version of windows to check if you have an older copy of windows 98SE or higher then it well do the full install of windows xp. that should do it and it well work fine.

Although, it could be a HDD problem.